It was a hard fire to fight and for a few minutes there were concerns that someone was trapped inside.

Fire crews in Westside responded to a house fire just before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 3400 block of Old Okanagan Highway.

Assistant Chief Darren Lee says when the first crew arrived they reported heavy smoke and flames issuing from the second floor sun deck.

“Bystanders reported that at least one of the residents was trapped in an upstairs bedroom. The first crew made an offensive attack to reach the bedroom and attempt a rescue,” says Lee.

He says it was soon confirmed that the two residents who were reported as missing, had escaped the fire and were inside a neighbours’ home.

“Once inside the structure, fire conditions quickly deteriorated to the point that the attack-team had to withdraw and switch to defensive attack.”

Lee says once knockdown was achieved, crews switched back to an offensive attack and thoroughly searched the premises to ensure that there was no one left inside.

The cause of the fire is not yet known. A B.C. Safety Authority electrical inspector will be assisting with the investigation in order to rule out electrical failure as a cause.

No one was injured.

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